By Harry Murray
At this time of the season the low, clear trout streams present us with a challenge which produces an exceptionally gratifying form of angling. The trout carefully select feeding stations which enable them to capture the greatest amount of food while exerting the least amount of energy. They are exceptionally wary now and since the natural food is sparse the largest trout choose the prime feeding station in each pool and stay there all day. This sets up a one on one challenge with us as we try to spot these trout and carefully present a fly.
However, this is where the challenge arises because as we carefully approach each pool, we seldom get a clear view of the trout holding on his feeding station. Rather, we get a small glimpse of some physical feature in the stream which appears out of place. Closer scrutiny reveals the trout. I call these features “signals”.
The easiest signal for us to spot which helps us locate a trout in the pool is a subtle movement he makes as he relocates on his feeding station or as he turns to take a nymph.
On sunny days an easy signal to spot is the shadow of the trout on the stream bottom below him. By simply refocusing my sight, I clearly see the trout and know where to cast my fly. The color contrast between the trout and the stream bottom over which he is lying often help us catch many trout. For example, a dark brown trout lying over a light sandy stream bottom may give you your largest trout of the year. This is some of my favorite trout fishing because the challenge is right before us. It is a matter of who is going to outsmart whom.
Note: Murray’s Fly Shop in Edinburg will be holding Fly Casting & Rigging 101 Classes from 10a.m. to noon at the fly shop on September 14 and again on October 5. Email info@murraysflyshop.comfor reservations.